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<v Speaker 1>Four Pretty Things by Robert Winton one two three. Old

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<v Speaker 1>Stephen Burnt cackled and mumbled to himself as he turned

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<v Speaker 1>his withered, shaking palm sideways and one by one allowed

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<v Speaker 1>three sparkling gems to fall on the table. Three beauties,

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<v Speaker 1>he gloated with senile, quivering lips. Three drops of crystallized

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<v Speaker 1>light of sun and moon. When I die, you pretty

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<v Speaker 1>shall go with me into the deep, cool grave, in

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<v Speaker 1>the darkness, safe from the desire of some grasping stranger.

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<v Speaker 1>You will stay with me until dust returns to dust.

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<v Speaker 1>The old man's maudlin monologue spent itself in foolish, vague

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<v Speaker 1>and half crazed mutterings. His rummy eyes blinked with cunning

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<v Speaker 1>avariciousness as he sought to feast his gaze with the

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<v Speaker 1>scintillating glitter of his precious bobbles. He grumbled weakly, and

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<v Speaker 1>his shriveled fingers groped uncertainly for his hoarde. It seemed

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<v Speaker 1>to him that the radiance of the stones that had

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<v Speaker 1>been the comfort of his lonely, selfish hours was not

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<v Speaker 1>so brilliant as it had been. My eyes must be

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<v Speaker 1>going back on me, he muttered, I shed blood for you,

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<v Speaker 1>and now you won't shine for me like you used

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<v Speaker 1>to do. It ain't my eyes, it's you that have

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<v Speaker 1>grown dull. What's the matter with you? Sparkle up, pretty things.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm murdered a man to get you. Nobody knows that

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<v Speaker 1>you are in my possession. Shine, little fireflies. You have

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<v Speaker 1>been bathed in blood. Shine for the old man who

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<v Speaker 1>has kept you warm on his heart for more than

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<v Speaker 1>twenty years. Bah your lightest, dim Stephen. A shadow is

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<v Speaker 1>creeping between you and your gems. Death is coming near,

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<v Speaker 1>but they shall not tear you away from me. I

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<v Speaker 1>will cheat them all. Still maundering and apostizing himself and

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<v Speaker 1>his treasures, the old man gathered up his diamonds and

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<v Speaker 1>reluctantly dropped them into a worn and greasy leather bag.

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<v Speaker 1>He then tucked the bag inside his gray shirt and

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<v Speaker 1>patted his thin, bony chest safe. He muttered, No one knows,

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<v Speaker 1>No one guesses that poor Stephen is worth a pile

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<v Speaker 1>of money. Now, I wonder if that darned girl has

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<v Speaker 1>been spying on me, trying to peek through the keyhole

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<v Speaker 1>or listen to what I was saying. I ain't been

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<v Speaker 1>talking loud, though and Susan's a fool anyhow. Standing by

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<v Speaker 1>his table, the old man gnawed nervously at his broken,

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<v Speaker 1>discolored fingernails. The haunted dread that he his secret might

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<v Speaker 1>be betrayed by some careless act of his own was

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<v Speaker 1>again upon him. The pleasure that he obtained by contemplating

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<v Speaker 1>and pawing over his stones was more than counterbalanced by

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<v Speaker 1>the condition of terror that always came over him with

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<v Speaker 1>redoubled intensity after he had indulged his weakness. The stolen

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<v Speaker 1>diamonds were his pride and joy. Also, they were a

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<v Speaker 1>burden and source of never ceasing anxiety. Shuffling over to

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<v Speaker 1>the bolted door, Stephen bent stiffly and peered at the

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<v Speaker 1>paper he had rammed into the keyhole. It ain't being touched,

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<v Speaker 1>he whispered, and with slow care, quickly slipped back the bolt.

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<v Speaker 1>There was a crafty, vicious gleam in his faded eyes

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<v Speaker 1>as he opened the door with sudden quickness. It was

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<v Speaker 1>his intention to surprise the girl he constantly suspected of

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<v Speaker 1>spying on him. But even had Susan beIN at the door,

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<v Speaker 1>the old men would not have caught her. He thought

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<v Speaker 1>his movements were soundless that he had given no hint

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<v Speaker 1>of his approach to the door. But he was greatly mistaken,

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<v Speaker 1>deaf to the noise of his own footsteps, and blind

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<v Speaker 1>to the many opportunities he had given the girl for

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<v Speaker 1>discovering his secret. Old Stephen lived in a fool's paradise.

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<v Speaker 1>Going slowly to the top of the stairs, he raised

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<v Speaker 1>his voice in a quarrelous call, Susan is supper ready?

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<v Speaker 1>From the kitchen below, came the sound of chair legs

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<v Speaker 1>scraping on the uncovered boards. The door opened, and a

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<v Speaker 1>shaft of lamplight illuminated the figure of a short, thick

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<v Speaker 1>set girl. She stuck her hands on her hips and

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<v Speaker 1>stared up at the crabbed features of her stepfather. Don't

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<v Speaker 1>ask fool questions, she said, brusquely. You know as well

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<v Speaker 1>as I do. It's been ready this hour and more.

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<v Speaker 1>You heard me thump on the ceiling. Come on down,

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<v Speaker 1>I'm sick of Waitin an attack of rage seized the

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<v Speaker 1>old man, and when he stood in the bare, untidy kitchen,

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<v Speaker 1>he shook a threatening fist in the girl's face. Don't

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<v Speaker 1>you get fresh with me, he said loudly. Don't I

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<v Speaker 1>feed you clothe you ain't it my money that pays

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<v Speaker 1>for your keep. You that is so dumb and stupid

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<v Speaker 1>that you can't even get a job at washing dishes. Ah,

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<v Speaker 1>shut up, retorted Susan, slamming a blackened dish on the table.

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<v Speaker 1>Shove some of them beans in your jaw and claw

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<v Speaker 1>on the moldy pork you expect me to eat, but

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<v Speaker 1>don't chew a rag with me. I am fed up

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<v Speaker 1>with your nasty mean ways. I am a fool, sure

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<v Speaker 1>I am for staying around here when I might mite,

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<v Speaker 1>What asked the old man, jeeringly, might ride in a

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<v Speaker 1>limousine and dress in velvet and a weezy gust of

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<v Speaker 1>merriment was Old Stephen Brunt's greeting to the girl's strange announcement.

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<v Speaker 1>He cackled and leered at her anger flushed face and

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<v Speaker 1>took no heed of the dangerous look in her cold eyes.

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<v Speaker 1>Don't make me laugh, he pleaded, in mock concern. You

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<v Speaker 1>won't never ride in no gas tank, scept it be

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<v Speaker 1>a patrol wagon or a hearse shove over the bread

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<v Speaker 1>and quit. Try to be funny while he ate his

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<v Speaker 1>food and gulped the lukewarm coffee that Susan poured in

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<v Speaker 1>the tin cup that stood at his elbow. Old Stephen

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<v Speaker 1>further elaborated on the girl's future. It was part of

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<v Speaker 1>his evening recreation to taunt Susan and tease her with

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<v Speaker 1>brutal words to the point of tears, with the meaninglessness

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<v Speaker 1>of a diseased nature. The old man delighted in tormenting Susan,

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<v Speaker 1>but although he tried to prod her with stinging words,

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<v Speaker 1>he failed to bring a flash of rage into her sullen,

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<v Speaker 1>dark eyes. It takes two to quarrel, and after a

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<v Speaker 1>while Stephen, tired of his one sided argument. Crouched over

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<v Speaker 1>the stove, his thoughts reverted to the girl's peculiar assertion.

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<v Speaker 1>Lee Mosine, he muttered in puzzled disgust. Now and again,

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<v Speaker 1>his hand rose stealthily to his chest, and he convinced

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<v Speaker 1>himself by touching that his prize gems were safe in

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<v Speaker 1>their hiding place. Pretty things, he whispered drowsily. Nobody dreams

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<v Speaker 1>that Old Stephen is mighty rich. Nine thousand dollars apiece

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<v Speaker 1>three ninees or twenty seven twenty seven thousand dollars in

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<v Speaker 1>shining diamonds, safe and warm, Ignoring the old man's mutterings.

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<v Speaker 1>Susan stacked the dirty dishes in the sink, and leaving

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<v Speaker 1>them to be washed later, she silently went out the

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<v Speaker 1>back door. Susan had a date, and when she reached

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<v Speaker 1>the corner of the house, the smell of cigarette smoke

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<v Speaker 1>acquainted her with the fact that her friend was waiting

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<v Speaker 1>for her. Old man of sleep inquired a drunk husky voice.

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<v Speaker 1>As usual, replied the girl. And as usual, you've been boozing.

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<v Speaker 1>Keep away from me, Jim, you're a beast. I only

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<v Speaker 1>had a couple of glasses, protested Jim. That ain't gonna

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<v Speaker 1>hurt a fella. None, say, I pulled off a cinch

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<v Speaker 1>last night. Listen, I got a wad as big as

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<v Speaker 1>my fist. Get your hat and let's go take in

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<v Speaker 1>a show. Come on, you, black eyed cutie, be a sport.

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<v Speaker 1>Nothing doing, retorted the girl. Tell me about last night.

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<v Speaker 1>What did you get? A hat full of watches and rings,

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<v Speaker 1>boasted Jim got away like a bird. Did you hock him?

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<v Speaker 1>Not on your life, kid, say I ain't such a

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<v Speaker 1>simp as to take a risk like that. Jim leaned closer,

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<v Speaker 1>but although the girl allowed his arm to encircle her

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<v Speaker 1>ample waist. She proved to be in no mood for

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<v Speaker 1>love making and light talk. She wanted to know how

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<v Speaker 1>he disposed of stolen property. Jim talked a little, but

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<v Speaker 1>thought a lot. I'll bet a dollar. He reflected that

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<v Speaker 1>old miser has something hidden away that's worth having, and

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<v Speaker 1>she wants to get a hold of them. Sue is

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<v Speaker 1>mighty anxious to find out the name of a fence.

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<v Speaker 1>Do I butt in and put one over on her?

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<v Speaker 1>Or do I not? I'm sick of her anyway, and

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<v Speaker 1>I may as well get something out of it before

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<v Speaker 1>I cut loose. During the next three hours, Jim kept

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<v Speaker 1>his foot on the brass rail, but although he drank frequently,

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<v Speaker 1>he exercised care to keep his head. Got another little

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<v Speaker 1>job on hand, he confessed to the bartend Good biz.

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<v Speaker 1>Maybe don't know yet. Gotta take a chance of landing

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<v Speaker 1>A lemon was in a while. Soon after midnight, the

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<v Speaker 1>back door of Stephen Brunt's ramshackle framed house creaked slightly

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<v Speaker 1>and yielded to the pressure of a skillfully applied Jimmy

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<v Speaker 1>Silent as a cat, Jim crossed the kitchen, listened for

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<v Speaker 1>a moment at the door of Susan's room and climbed

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<v Speaker 1>the stairs. He had made up his mind that whatever

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<v Speaker 1>there was worth stealing would be hidden in the old

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<v Speaker 1>man's room. The bolt that Stephen never failed to push

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<v Speaker 1>into its socket did not delay Jim's entry more than

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<v Speaker 1>fifty seconds. Accustomed to forcing an entrance where steel doors

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<v Speaker 1>and bars blocked his way, Jim found this as easy

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<v Speaker 1>to accomplish as opening a box of candy would be

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<v Speaker 1>to a child. The light of Jim's torch flitted about

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<v Speaker 1>the room, and in its passing, rested momentarily on the bed,

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<v Speaker 1>partly covered by a torn quilt. The old man lay

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<v Speaker 1>on his back, snoring. The light did not rest on

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<v Speaker 1>him for more than a few seconds, but Jim's darting,

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<v Speaker 1>searching gaze missed no detail. He saw enough to cause

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<v Speaker 1>him to snap off his light and step nearer to

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<v Speaker 1>the bed. Gently feeling his fingers crept over the old

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<v Speaker 1>man's chest and closed around the leather bag. He held

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<v Speaker 1>a knife, ready to cut the string that was looped

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<v Speaker 1>about Stephen's craggy neck. The deed was as good as done,

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<v Speaker 1>the bag all but in Jim's possession. When a metallic

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<v Speaker 1>clatter on the floor caused the old man to wake

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<v Speaker 1>with a shrill scream of alarm. Startled by the accident,

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<v Speaker 1>Jim stepped back and his heel came down on the

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<v Speaker 1>cylindrical torch that had fallen from his pocket and betrayed

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<v Speaker 1>his presence. He tried to save himself from slipping, but

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<v Speaker 1>the old man's clutching fingers hampered his effort to recover

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<v Speaker 1>his balance. He fell and dragged with him the cursing

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<v Speaker 1>old man. A furious struggle followed. Crazed by rage and

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<v Speaker 1>fear of discovery, Jim let loose all his strength in

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<v Speaker 1>beastial brutality. He secured a murderous clutch on the old

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<v Speaker 1>man's throat, and his hole did not relax until he

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<v Speaker 1>felt his victim become suddenly limp. Then, when it was

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<v Speaker 1>too late, Jim let the body fall and grope for

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<v Speaker 1>his torch. The bulb glowed and revealed the horror that

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<v Speaker 1>his hands had done dead. He stuttered. The look of

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<v Speaker 1>victory was wiped from his face as he stared down

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<v Speaker 1>at the distorted features. He felt no remorse for his deeds,

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<v Speaker 1>but in common with other murderers, he showed the cowardly

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<v Speaker 1>streak in him and trembled with heart gripping panic. He

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<v Speaker 1>jerked himself erect, ready to take instant flight. Then again

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<v Speaker 1>the leather bag caught his eye, and greed nerved him

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<v Speaker 1>to wrench it free. May as well have what I

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<v Speaker 1>came for, he muttered callously. He was amazed and joyful

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<v Speaker 1>when he opened the bag and three stones glittered in

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<v Speaker 1>his hand. I'll bet he stole them, muttered Jim. And

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<v Speaker 1>little knew that he was near the truth, and that

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<v Speaker 1>fate had chosen him as the instrument of vengeance for

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<v Speaker 1>the crime that Stephen Brunt had committed over twenty years ago.

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<v Speaker 1>Me for the woods, he added, and padded softly to

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<v Speaker 1>the door. Must have made a racket. If fat durned

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<v Speaker 1>girl woke up, I'll have to do another job. The

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<v Speaker 1>door slammed. Below, Jim heard a quick rush of feet

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<v Speaker 1>and a woman screaming in abandonment to hysteria, Sue, mumbled Jim.

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<v Speaker 1>Him crouching in the dark, he strove to collect his

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<v Speaker 1>alarmed thoughts and plant a way of escape. He could

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<v Speaker 1>frame no idea except the pressing necessity for flight. He

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<v Speaker 1>blundered down the stairs, frantic to get out. A man

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<v Speaker 1>shout and Susan's accusing repeated out cries of murder, that's

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<v Speaker 1>him rang out simultaneously as Jim tore down the street.

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<v Speaker 1>As he ran, he glanced over his shoulder. She's got

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<v Speaker 1>a cop, he gasped, then plunged on, unheeding of the

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<v Speaker 1>policeman's order to stop. Bullets began to spatter on his trail.

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<v Speaker 1>The third shot found lodgment in the murderer's knee. He

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<v Speaker 1>floundered and sprawled on his face. His race was done.

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<v Speaker 1>At the station house, Jim listened bitterly to a mocking story.

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<v Speaker 1>He had killed a man, pledged his own life to

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<v Speaker 1>atonement in the electric chair for nothing. The gems that

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<v Speaker 1>Stephen had fondled and played with were only paced duplicates

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<v Speaker 1>of the diamonds he had doated on. It was Susan

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<v Speaker 1>who told the surprising story. I stole them over a

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<v Speaker 1>month ago. She confessed. My stepfather left his bag on

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<v Speaker 1>his table, and I took the real diamonds and put

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<v Speaker 1>in three imitations that I had picked out of a

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<v Speaker 1>brooch I bought on purpose for when my chance should come.

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<v Speaker 1>For years I knew he had him. He half starved

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<v Speaker 1>me and never gave me a moment's peace. I was

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<v Speaker 1>going to sell him and run away. Now, curse you,

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<v Speaker 1>exclaimed Jim. All along you've been stringing me. That's why

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<v Speaker 1>you wanted to find out the name of a fence.

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<v Speaker 1>That's enough, the lieutenant interrupted, sharply. That'll be all from

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<v Speaker 1>you now. The rest can wait until morning. You'll get

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<v Speaker 1>all that's coming to you later. Hand over the diamonds,

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<v Speaker 1>young woman. We'll look up their history and see if

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<v Speaker 1>we can place them where they belong. When the real

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<v Speaker 1>and false stones were ranged on his desk, the lieutenant

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<v Speaker 1>summed up Susan's part. A clever girl, was his comment.

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<v Speaker 1>No wonder the old man couldn't discover the trick she

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<v Speaker 1>played on him. They're exactly the same size, and his

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<v Speaker 1>eyes were failing him. I suppose she counted on that

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<v Speaker 1>the real ones must be worth a pile of money.

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<v Speaker 1>I guess we won't have much of a job tracing

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<v Speaker 1>them back to their rightful owner. The End of Pretty

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<v Speaker 1>Things by Robert Winton